Control: Azure > CIS v3.0 > 09 - Application Services > 09.11 - Ensure Azure Key Vaults are Used to Store Secrets

Configures auditing against a CIS Benchmark item.

Level: 2

Azure Key Vault will store multiple types of sensitive information such as encryption keys, certificate thumbprints, and Managed Identity Credentials. Access to these 'Secrets' can be controlled through granular permissions.

The credentials given to an application have permissions to create, delete, or modify data stored within the systems they access. If these credentials are stored within the application itself, anyone with access to the application or a copy of the code has access to them. Storing within Azure Key Vault as secrets increases security by controlling access. This also allows for updates of the credentials without redeploying the entire application.